Balanced facial growth: a schematic interpretation.

Balanced facial growth is a complex process that involves maxillary, mandibular, dental, and cranial growth. Growth of the maxilla is due to special movements of translation, rotation, and elongation as well as to growth of its skeletal units and skeletal structures. Growth of the mandible is the sum of growth of all of its skeletal units. Cranial growth influences both maxillary and mandibular positions, which themselves can vary interdependently, in part because of the mutual influences of the maxillary and mandibular dentitions.